Filmax Animation WARNING!

[elrod]

FREELANCE artists are ALWAYS at RISK!

DON'T GET RIPPED OFF!

........especially if you are working 'long-distance' as a subcontractor.

Filmax Animation is one of the great new studios leading Europes resurgence in quality Feature Animation, but they have a funny way of showing their gratitute to those of us who help put their grand visions on the big screen.

Here is a cautionary tale that is a MUST READ for all who are attracted by Filmax's work and hope to apply for a job there someday.

NOTE:
This thread is posted only in the spirit of helping artists to protect themselves and NOT as a slur against Filmax Animation. If my present situation with this studio is fully resolved and my artists are paid what is owed them then I will duly post an anouncement of this here.

Full story here:
http://www.geocities.com/filmaxwarning/main.html

ALL comments are welcome!

[joojaa]

Who the hell distributes data over the net in doc format?

[elrod]

Well, I "the hell" did!
For a more accurate answer just 'GOOGLE' .doc (there may be more offenders out there)

If you read the letter then its a pity you didn't comment about the text rather that slamming the format. (basically it was easier this way than formatting text on geocities pagebuilder.......what a tedium)

Anyway, any comments on the story? In the spirit of warning artists against RIP OFFS? (or is that way off topic here?)

Here's another link which I found much too late........looks like it's still timely!
http://www.animationnation.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=008897http://www.animationnation.com/cgi-bin/ult...ic;f=1;t=008897

Sorry about the doc (get over it!)

[joojaa]

No offense but there are a lot of people who wouldnt open a doc file for any reason whatsoever, its a security issue im afraid (thats why they invented html). So if you want people to read your text post it as something else. BEsides if doc is teh only format you can give then ist not realy all that credible.

I mean portting it to html is easy enough, portting to doc is allmost as acceptable.

Im not even one of the more security paranoid of people out there, but i do value simplicity and security. Sorry i live by whats on my computers (even tough i wouldnt seriously doubt your doc could do any damage but...).

[jtk77]

yea if you can make it html or a pdf. I don't even have word on my machine

[elrod]

OK. Point taken.......when you're right you're right.

I put up a PDF instead of the DOC. Hope you can drop in and have a read of it.

Some support comments would be nice too if the article inspires any.

[pyrokinesis]

My honest opinion is that this is extremely unprofessional. You have a contract dispute with the vendor and you're airing your dirty laundry in public. This is not the "right" way to resolve a dispute.

[elrod]

Your opinion is well taken but a little one sided. Are you suggesting that Filmax are behaving professionaly?

If you have read my story you will know that it is not a 'contract' dispute at all. The contract was sound and accepted by both parties. The dispute is about not paying for completed work and, let's be frank here, this is not uncommon in this industry when studios face financial problems.

The decision to go public was made after all other direct appeals were ignored by the producers. They are no longer responding to my emails. I have had many comments in my (webpage) email from people on both sides of the fence. Those who see this as the 'wrong method' (as yourself) and others who commend me for the courage to speak out when all else fails.

I will always stand by the artists who work with me and it is they also who are desperately waiting for their payments.

[joojaa]

Not professional? Well tell you what backlists have been available for ages, I mean its standard practice in many countries to have business newspapers to publish a blacklist set in by companies for unpaid debts. Its just one of those things you can screw up and get the money but your loss of reputation is MANY times more worth than anything you missed out on.

Okay maybe the way it publisshed is but not balklisting per se. Problem with this one offcourse is its hard to back up.

And yes writting a good contract is essentiall for ALL of us. However they are 2 sided swords it not more than once that the insistor of a certain calsue has become its primary victim.

[elrod]

Good point 'joojaa'........reputaion IS everything!

[fredc]

Fairplay,
In this particular case I don't think posting on the web is unprofessional. This particular studio appears to thrive on internet business and is able to exploit the distances between each party, so what other defense do freelancers have, except post their experiences with the company?

I would also be very careful to just post the facts. You are having problems getting paid and are just posting your experiences with the company. Leave it at that. Don't draw your own conclusions in a public forum like this, especially when you are the only case you know of with this problem. There might be others, but let them come forward first.

Don't post names of individuals, your issue is with the company. You also have no issue if you get paid, but if you harm this person (reputaton), the bell has already been rung. Here is a possible scenerio:

1. The studio is having financial problems (as assumed by links).

2. The indivdual is as puzzled as you that you did not recieve payment, so they talk to accounting.

3. Accounting doesn't have the funds to pay everyone, so they gave the individual a story. You are probably at the bottom of the list since "local" creditors could yank equipment any day. The main production crew is drawing a paycheck, so they have to pay them first.

4. The producer knows you aren't sending the remaining work without getting paid, so they gave that job to someone else. Even if they wanted to pay you, but can't until some future date, they can't hold up production.

5. So the individual is told "those guys (you) are holding up production, we can't wait on this stuff so we gave it to someone else. We aren't going to pay for work they didn't do." This is all half truths, but the indivudual might be in the dark as much as you. Or, they know the truth, but have no control over paying you.

This might all be $%^&, but I hope this shows that it is better not to focus on an individual. Again, remember you are just trying to get paid. Why burn bridges if it isn't necessery?

If none of my post seems reasonble, then reverse everything. Assume the studio or the indivudla posted first with the exact sqme emails? You would expect others to just post the facts, so it is only fair that you do the same for others, even if you are totally right.

Respectfully,
Urp

[joojaa]

Well yeah, its ok to blacklist comppanies but not their accountant for what teh comppany did

So everyone carefull with accusations to be sure you can prove them otherwise you might be the one sued for slander. Angry or noangry. This is especialy true on PUBLIC discussionboards. YOu cant just later recant whats said here. ITs allready cached.

[elrod]

The above 2 posts are absolutely correct.....(although I am still getting the 'run around' from both of the individuals I named in my webpage) so I will heed this advice accordingly and make revisions and remedies.

My flawed efforts only show that this is the most extreme case I have dealt with in my 24 years in the biz. NOT the late payments.......(I've had that before), but acting in a role where I owe others who are not so financially stable as to be able to absorb such a delay. THAT'S where I draw the line and come out fighting.

For what it's worth here, I accept that the Production Manager I named in my story is probably just 'following directives' from above and I am not blaming this person directly but........the names I mentioned are the only representatives that I can deal with. I have not been offered any other contacts who might better explain the situation with the authority to better take responsibility thereof (despite asking).............so............what choice do I have?

Regardless, I do not want to malign individuals who are not responsible for this so I will make the relevant changes to my story soon.

As for 'lawsuits' and 'cached' web pages.........well, first you have to tell me "who" posted that stuff before you unleash your expensive lawyers.

Point taken and thanks for taking an interest

[elrod]

File UPDATED

"It's not personal..........only business"
-Michael Corleone-

[fredc]

fairplay,
I've been thinking about your problem, and I just wanted you to know that it really does anger me. In my last post I was trying to be objective, which you pretty much have to be when you only have one side of an argument....

....However, in light of the fact that you have artists you have sub-contracted that can't be paid either, this really is a matter of urgency. I don't blame you for taking this on-line. That studio has put you in a very bad situtation. They have distance to protect them from liability, but you don't have that luxury.

I wish you well in your fight. The squeaky wheel usually get's greased eventually, so keep trying. Keep emailing and calling. Just because they don't answer doesn't mean they don't get them. Be sure to include in your messages how hard you have been trying to contact them.

Good Luck,
Urp

[elrod]

Thanks Urp, I,m glad you see the big picture from my side. It's part of the wider global picture of big companies being blind to the little people. One of my artists called the other day and told me his little boy is ill and he cannot afford medicine. My heart sank!

I remember at one point I tried to tell the Production Manager about the REAL problems that the late payments are causing us. I had hoped she could speed things up knowing some details.

The response was "It is not necessary to tell me your problems. Every studio big and small have problems.....Regards"

The fact that our problems were a direct result of their problems seemed irrelevant. Still no explanation (or apology) was offered.